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Title. 



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13—17372-3 GP 



Copyright, 1921, 
Brad Stephens & Co., Boston 



m 1 * 5322 



THE WHISTLE 



By 
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 



£xtraB from a Jitter Written by 

Franklin to 'Madame ^rillon 

November y IJjg 



Published by 

BRAD STEPHENS G? COMPANY 

J42 BERKELEY STREET, 
BOSTON 




From the Portrait by Duplessis in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts 
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 



'.'4." ''"'.'J!'.,';...* ,>njvjm\'i' 



THE WHISTLE 

WHEN I was a child of seven 
years old, my friends, on a 
holiday, filled my pocket with cop- 
pers. I went directly to a shop where 
they sold toys for children; and, being 
charmed with the sound of a whistle^ 
that I met by the way in the hands 
of another boy, I voluntarily offered 
and gave all my money for one. I 
then came home, and went whistling 
all over the house, much pleased with 
my whistle^ but disturbing all the 
family. My brothers, and sisters, and 
cousins, understanding the bargain I 
had made, told me I had given four 



times as much for it as it was worth; 
put me in mind what good things I 
might have bought with the rest of 
the money; and laughed at me so 
much for my folly, that I cried with 
vexation, and the reflection gave me 
more chagrin than the whistle gave 
me pleasure. 

This, however, was afterwards of use 
to me, the impression continuing on 
my mind; so that often, when I was 
tempted to buy some unnecessary 
thing, I said to myself, Dont give 
too much for the whistle y and I saved 
my money. 

As I grew up, came into the world, 
and observed the actions of men, I 



thought I met with many, very many, 
who gave too much for the whistle. 

When I saw one too ambitious of 
court favor, sacrificing his time in 
attendance on levees, his repose, his 
liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his 
friends, to attain it, I have said to 
myself. This man gives too much for 
his whistle. 

When I saw another fond of popu- 
larity, constantly employing himself 
in political bustles, neglecting his own 
affairs, and ruining them by that ne- 
glect. He pays ^ indeed^ said I, too much 
for his whistle. 

If I knew a miser, who gave up every 
kind of comfortable living, all the 



pleasure of doing good to others, all 
the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and 
the joys of benevolent friendship, for 
the sake of accumulating wealth. 
Poor man^ said \^ you pay too much 
for your whistle. 

When I met with a man of pleasure, 
sacrificing every laudable improve- 
ment of the mind, or of his fortune, 
to mere corporeal sensations, and 
ruining his health in their pursuit. 
Mistaken man^ said \^you are provid- 
ing pain for yourself y instead of pleas- 
ure; you give too much for your whistle. 

If I see one fond of appearance, or 
fine clothes, fine houses, fine furni- 
ture, fine equipages, all above his 




My brothers, sisters and cousins laughed at me so much for my 
folly that I cried with vexation. 



fortune, for which he contracts debts, 
and ends his career in a prison, Alas! 
say I, he has paid dear^ very dear ^ for 
his whistle. 

When I see a beautiful, sweet-tem- 
pered girl married to an ill-natured 
brute of a husband. What a pity^ say 
I, that she should pay so much for a 
whistle I 

In short, I conceive that great part 
of the miseries of mankind are 
brought upon them by the false 
estimates they have made of the 
value of things, and by their giving 
too much for their whistles. 



THIS Franklin Handicraft Book is number one in 
a series of ten now in preparation. You can pur- 
chase either a finished book, or the materials only 
and bind and hand color your own Franklin Book. A 
special label to go on the inside front cover is supplied 
with each printed signature^ so that those who make 
their own books can attach their name to each copy. 



